Senator Rickey Hendon Presents West Side Music Boot Camp

Chicago, IL -- The West Side Music Boot Camp is sponsored by Senator Rickey R. Hendon (5th District), the IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the MIW Foundation. This program offers FREE training and seminars in music production, business, and technology to members of the West Side music community who are interested in pursuing a career in music. The program mission: To empower local performers, producers, promoters, and other members of the community with the critical knowledge and skills needed in order to succeed in today’s competitive music and entertainment industry. A FREE Orientation Event will be held Saturday, November 10, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Homan Square Building, 3333 W. Arthington St., Conference Room D. This Orientation Event is FREE and open to the public.

Senator Rickey R. Hendon, Assistant Majority Leader, IL-5th District says he is really excited about this program - both as a Senator and as a singer songwriter who grew up on the streets of Chicago.

“Like any industry, the local music scene needs skilled workers in order to create opportunity, says Senator Hendon. “The more people we can train with these critical skills, the more opportunity we can create. It’s simple economics. That’s why this program is so important to the West Side and the region. Because there are lot’s of folks who don’t have the money to pay for training or college on their own, but they’ve got talent and motivation. Those are the one’s that need us most.”

MIW Foundation staff will be on hand all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. signing people up to participate in this ground breaking State Sponsored Program. EVERYONE who comes to the Orientation Event on Nov 10th between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. will receive Seminar Passes, Scholarship Awards, and other Resources valued at over $600. Individuals will also be selected from among the attendees to participate in a 12 week music business course and a 16 week music production course absolutely FREE. All who wish to attend this FREE event must RSVP by phone at (773) 896-7173. Details available at myspace.com/miwfoundation. Please arrive early.

MIW Foundation Executive Director, Reggi Hopkins says it is time to start nurturing the musical talent that the city of Chicago has to offer.

“Chicago is uniquely positioned in the music industry as being an independent music scene rather than a major label music scene,” says Hopkins. “We need to exploit this to our advantage along with the independent film scene and make Chicago the largest independent media capital in the country.

About West Side Boot Camp
West Side Music Boot Camp provides a comprehensive training and career development program for residents of Chicago’s West Side music community. This program focuses specifically on skills related to music business, production, and technology.

About MIW Foundation
The MIW Foundation deploys training and career development programs related to music business, production, and technology in economically distressed area’s where the average income is considered low to mid, where the high school drop out rate is higher than normal, and where residents typically lack the resources to pursue higher education. MIW Foundation is also the not-for-profit arm of a local institution called Music Industry Workshop. Music Industry Workshop (MIW) is widely recognized as the leading community based training and resource center of its kind in Illinois.